Mount San Jacinto from the Tramway
Take the aerial tramway from desert floor to alpine wilderness, then hike the PCT to the peak.
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
- Length
- 8 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 2,200 ft
- Duration
- 6–9
- Best Season
- May–Oct
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Features
- Alpine above desert, PCT
About the trail
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway rises 5,500 feet in ten minutes from a desert valley to the alpine San Jacinto Wilderness, and the trailhead at the top puts the Pacific Crest Trail within reach of the summit. From the Long Valley parking area, the PCT climbs through whitebark pine and granite domes to the 10,834-foot peak — the highest summit in Southern California's desert region, with the Salton Sea far below and Mexico on clear days.
Trailhead map & directions
Turn-by-turn route
- Drive the tramway from Mountain Village to the Long Valley observation deck.
- Pick up the Pacific Crest Trail behind the ranger station.
- Climb through whitebark pine past the Trough and the granite domes.
- Continue to the summit ridge and the peak.
- Return to the tramway before the last descent. Total: 8.0 miles round trip.
Parking
No parking at altitude — you park at the Mountain Village tramway lot in Palm Springs and ride up. Tram tickets are the real cost.
Tips from the trail
- Check the last tram descent time before you start hiking.
- The summit is 25°F colder than the desert floor.
- Dogs are not allowed in the wilderness area.
- Buy tram tickets in advance on summer weekends.
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